-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 HkfX744SV+X8IKbCwseWWA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227725-03-000008.txt : 20030515
<SEC-HEADER>0001227725-03-000008.hdr.sgml : 20030515
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030515141824
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227725-03-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030515

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MELLON FINANCIAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000064782
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				251233834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MELLON BANK CTR
		STREET 2:		500 GRANT ST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15258-0001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4122345000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON BANK CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MELLON NATIONAL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19841014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARAMANDA JAMES D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227725

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07410
		FILM NUMBER:		03703592

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MELLON FINANCIAL CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE MELLON CENTER ROOM 4826
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15258
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4122345000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-13</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>        <issuerCik>0000064782</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MELLON FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>MEL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227725</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ARAMANDA JAMES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-05-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>590.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>27.31</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>34360.32</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">My indirect holdings are as follows:1779 shares in the Mellon 401(k) Plan as of 3/31/2003.  </footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>James D Aramanda</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>James D. Aramanda</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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